Sriharikota, ANDHRA PRADESH : ISRO successfully placed into orbit the first of India’s second generation navigation satellite - NVS-01 Monday morning. The 2,232 Kg NVS-01 satellite, originally called Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System(IRNSS), was carried by Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle - GSLV-F12.
The three-staged GSLV rocket measuring 51.7 metre in height and weighing 420 ronnes rose to the skies from the second launch pad at ISRO in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota, at 10:42 am. Breaking free of earth’s gravity the rocket rose like with bright orange fire at its tail.
Then jas scientists at ISRO’s control room watched the flight, just 19 minutes into its mission, the rocket slung NVS-01 into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit(GTO) from where the satellite will be taken p to its final position.
The Indian satellite navigation system(NavIC) or India’s Global Positioning System, comprises nine satellites - seven in orbit and two as substitutes. The NVS series of satellites will sustain and augment the NavIC with enhanced features. The NVS-01 has a mission life of 12 years and is powered by two solar arrays capable of generating power up to 2.4kw and a lithium-ion battery during eclipse.
